Christmas Eve relaxing, reading and attending to the ducks and family matters before Diana’s family visit for tea and Father Christmas gets a helping hand
Up at my normal Saturday time and via my normal routine of toast and marmalade breakfast and read of the paper and Economist. Dressed and washed and after to let out and feed the ducks with Daniel. For some days he has been complaining that only the younger ducks are coming in each evening and that the big ones have flown off. I soon find out that they are in the flock all the time! He was expecting them to be still whitish brown but they have of course moulted fully and are the same colour as the rest!
On counting them, however, their numbers are down to 15 with only 9 of the original 12 youngsters surviving the wrath of the local fishermen who they are always pestering for food. To The Lady and to remove my tool box and secure her winter cover that had worked loose. The family together off by car to St Neots but quickly on to Huntingdon as St Neots banks and building societies are closed. In Huntingdon a good hour or two looking around the shops before collecting Diana’s sister, Sue, from the station after travelling from Boston. On with Sue and family to our Sandy Happy Eater and a nice meal together. We heard this morning from my parents that they were not going to attempt the journey over on Christmas Day. Mum has been making reasonable progress in recovery and has had encouragement from medical contacts on the chances of being fit enough for a hip operation. Her surgeon, Dr Bracegirdle, will not easily be convinced though having been adamant in the past. An afternoon watching occasional television, playing with the children and reading before the arrival of the rest of Diana’s family at 5.00pm. Mother and Father and brother Charlie with wife Chrisula. A fine tea with scones, mince pies, sausage rolls, shortbread, jam tarts and tangerine trifle and all set down after to relax. Eventually they all leave and the children to bed. Diana and I watch some late television before she puts out all the children’s presents against the morning.